As Werribee enjoyed the bye over the weekend, it saw 22 Werribee-listed players return to local football around the state, including a number of faces who have featured regularly at VFL level throughout the opening half of the 2026 season.

Across 12 different local leagues, strong performances continued to pile up as Werribee-listed players continued pushing their case for selection, while for a select few the opportunity to become Werribee Football Club player #1000 continues to edge closer.

Read how the Werribee boys fared in this week’s edition of the Weekly Local Player Report for 2026.

Western Football Netball League:

Harry Maguire - Hoppers Crossing
Returning to Hoppers Crossing after four straight VFL games for Werribee, Maguire continued his strong form despite the side falling by 55 points to Yarraville Seddon. Up against one of the best key defender pairings in the league, the key forward booted six goals in a dominant display up forward, while also finishing with 12 disposals and seven marks, four contested. With limited inside 50 opportunities, Maguire still found a way to impact almost every scoring chain with his work rate and willingness to compete standing out strongly.

Wil Kliszewski - Yarraville Seddon
Down the other end to Maguire, Kliszewski produced one of his strongest performances of the season in the nine-goal win over Hoppers Crossing. Named in the best players in a dominant day for the Eagles, the key forward booted four goals to go along with 14 disposals, seven marks, including five contested, and 12 hitouts as he made an impact all around the ground. Kliszewski’s attack on the ball in the air was a major highlight of the day, showcased by a mark-of-the-year contender which has since been recognised as the WFNL’s top play of the round.

Rani Pavlidis - Werribee Districts
Pavlidis produced his best game of the season in Werribee Districts’ 21-point win over Newport in a tough contest away from home. The small forward played higher up the ground and collected 17 disposals, with his composure in traffic a standout. Named in the Districts’ best, Pavlidis finished with a game-high four goal assists to go with four inside 50s and six score involvements in a strong game for the youngster.

Ballarat Football Netball League:

Tom Simpson - Ballarat Swans
Simpson was dominant in Ballarat’s come-from-behind 12-point win over Melton, helping the Swans defeat Melton for the first time since 2019 and improve to 5-1 for the season. Simpson stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with 33 disposals, eight marks, six clearances, seven tackles and eight score involvements to earn a spot in Ballarat's best after a complete midfield display. Spending time both inside and outside mid, his ball use, pressure and ability to work to dangerous spots around the ground were major strengths as he continues to shine every time he returns to local level.

Riddell District Football Netball League:

Nash King - Wallan
King starred in Wallan’s 26-point win over fellow top side Diggers Rest, standing up in a high-quality contest with a huge midfield performance. The midfielder gathered 29 disposals, 15 contested possessions, eight clearances and two goals, while also driving the ball forward with 12 inside 50s. His composure under pressure and ability to perform in big moments were standout features.

Geelong Football Netball League:

Cooper Whyte - Grovedale
Whyte starred in Grovedale’s six-point win over Leopold, earning best-on-ground honours after a complete midfield display. The inside midfielder gathered 24 disposals, 10 clearances, 10 inside 50s and a goal, winning the ball both in the contest and on the outside while also having an impact defensively. His balance between contested work, spread and ability to hit the scoreboard proved crucial in the thrilling win.

Jay Dahlhaus - Leopold
Playing his first local game since 2023, Dahlhaus started strongly with seven disposals and a goal while playing as a deep small forward in the opening quarter for Leopold. The Werribee premiership forward brought plenty of energy and defensive pressure and also had three score involvements in the first term, before his afternoon was unfortunately cut short after being on the receiving end of a heavy tackle, which later resulted in a tough kidney injury. Without Dahlhaus, Leopold went down to Cooper Whyte’s Grovedale by just six points in a thriller.

Hampden Football Netball League:

Archie Taylor - Cobden
Taylor’s exceptional first season of senior football rolled on despite Cobden’s 15-point loss to Warrnambool Blues. Named in the best players once again, making it six straight games to open the season, the young midfielder continued to stuff the stat sheet, gathering 27 disposals, 13 contested possessions, nine tackles, nine inside 50s and a goal. His pressure around stoppage, ability to break away from congestion and composure with ball in hand again stood out.

Myles McCluggage - South Warrnambool
After making his season debut for Werribee last week against Tasmania, McCluggage’s excellent form for South Warrnambool continued over the VFL bye in the side’s 24-point win over Camperdown. The midfielder was also named in the best, using the ball well and consistently making strong decisions with ball in hand as he finished with 31 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five tackles and a goal.

Tylar Watts - Portland
Despite Portland suffering a 48-point loss to Koroit, Watts was outstanding in the ruck and named in the side’s best. The big man dominated around stoppage with 22 disposals, 38 hitouts, six clearances and a goal, while also giving Portland’s midfielders first use consistently. His athleticism around the ground and ability to impact with ball in hand continued to stand out strongly.

Victorian Amateur Football Association:

Jordan Busuttil - Williamstown CYMS
Busuttil was one of the few shining lights in Williamstown CYMS’ 37-point loss to Ajax, producing a huge midfield performance to finish with 33 disposals, 17 contested possessions, eight clearances and a goal. Named in the CYMS’ best players, Busuttil battled strongly around stoppage and consistently drove the ball into dangerous areas through his ball movement.

Harrison Miller - Williamstown CYMS
Playing alongside fellow Werribee-listed player Jordan Busuttil, Miller battled hard in a difficult afternoon for Williamstown CYMS against Ajax. The forward finished with 12 disposals and five marks, continuing to work into strong positions around the ground despite limited opportunities in the 37-point loss.

Mitch Lloyd - University Blues
Returning to University Blues after his Round 5 club debut and a stretch of three games with Werribee, Lloyd impressed across half back despite the side’s 30-point loss to Old Xaverians. The defender stood up strongly down back, with his ability to read the ball a major highlight as he finished with 12 disposals, eight marks, including three intercept grabs, and five intercept possessions.

Bendigo Football Netball League:

Zane Keighran - Strathfieldsaye
Keighran continued his outstanding season in Strathfieldsaye’s massive 223-point win over Broadford, producing another classy display across half back. The defender collected 28 disposals, seven marks and six intercept possessions, continuing to read the play strongly and use the ball well from half back. Keighran also finished with a massive 12 score involvements and hit the scoreboard with a goal in a huge afternoon.

Essendon District Football League:

Massimo Raso - Deer Park
Playing his first local game of the season, Raso impressed in Deer Park’s 51-point loss to Essendon Doutta Stars. Rotating between high forward and midfield, he gathered 17 disposals and laid four tackles, with his pressure around the contest a clear strength of his afternoon, while also finishing with three score involvements in a tough day for Deer Park, who managed just six goals.

Ovens & Murray Football Netball League:

Cooper Hall - Lavington
Hall looked far more settled in his new forward role during Lavington’s 10-point loss to Wangaratta. The young forward gathered 18 disposals, 10 contested possessions, five tackles and a goal, while also bringing his usual pressure around the contest and showing some impressive moments with ball in hand. His impact on the game continued to grow as the afternoon went on in his first season of senior football.

Nick Newton - Lavington
Alongside fellow Werribee-listed player Cooper Hall, Newton spent the majority of the afternoon as an inside midfielder in Lavington’s 10-point loss to Wangaratta despite normally playing across half back. The midfielder finished with 19 disposals, three clearances, five inside 50s, six score involvements and three goal assists, showing strong signs in his stoppage game.

Foster Gardiner - North Albury
Gardiner continued his solid form in defence despite North Albury’s 33-point loss to Yarrawonga. Playing across half back, the defender finished with 17 disposals and five marks, with his one-on-one work and ability to cover the ground standouts in his game for the Hoppers.

Bellarine Football Netball League:

Tom Webster - Newcomb
Webster continued his highly consistent season in Newcomb’s 14-point win over Drysdale, once again taking on a quality key forward matchup. The defender finished with 18 disposals and six marks, while also intercepting strongly with another nine intercept possessions. His contest work and composure with ball in hand stood out in another impressive display for Newcomb.

Archer Hanegraaf - Geelong Amateurs
Hanegraaf continued building strongly into his return from injury in Geelong Amateur’s 54-point win over Torquay. Named in the side’s best players, the midfielder collected 22 disposals, six inside 50s and six tackles, with his contested work and skill execution standing out as he continued building match fitness.

Goulburn Valley Football Netball League:

Anthony Depasquale - Kyabram
Returning to Kyabram after being Werribee’s emergency the previous weekend, Depasquale continued his strong form in the Bombers’ 100-point win over Mansfield. After booting 10 goals in his last local outing, the key forward added another three majors while also finishing with 16 disposals, six marks and eight score involvements in the smashing. Alongside his scoreboard impact, Depasquale worked hard defensively and consistently competed strongly in the air.

Wimmera Football Netball League:

Cody Bryan - Horsham Saints
Continuing his development in a defensive role, Bryan played an important part in Horsham Saints’ thrilling two-point win over Minyip Murtoa. The Werribee ruckman spent the afternoon playing as a key back and defended well, while also finishing with nine disposals, five one percenters and three intercept possessions in the tight two-point win, where both sides managed just seven goals apiece.